Sam Kerr to Lead Matildas in Kenya FIFA Series Friendlies
Sam Kerr has been named captain of the Matildas for their upcoming international friendlies in Kenya, part of the women's FIFA Series. The Australian squad will face Malawi on April 11, followed by a match against either India or Kenya on April 15, as they begin preparations for the 2027 Women's World Cup.
Montemurro Calls for Higher-Quality Opposition
Head coach Joe Montemurro has selected a 22-player squad for the Kenya trip, emphasizing consistency in the team's build-up to the 2027 global tournament. However, Montemurro expressed a desire for the Matildas to face more "high quality, top-ranked" opponents in the lead-up to the World Cup. The current schedule includes matches against world No. 153 Malawi and either India (No. 67) or Kenya (No. 134), which Montemurro acknowledges is not ideal for testing the team against elite competition.
"The Asian Cup was a perfect example for us, we played high-quality teams, obviously the final was against one of the best teams in the world, and I suppose we've set that benchmark," Montemurro stated. "Moving forward, we've set ourselves a benchmark and playing against those Top 10, Top 15 nations leading into the World Cup, and [against] differing styles is going to be critically important."
Key Players Return and Notable Absences
The squad features a near full-strength lineup, with stalwarts such as Caitlin Foord, Steph Catley, Hayley Raso, Alanna Kennedy, and Mackenzie Arnold all included. This marks Australia's first participation in the women's FIFA Series campaign. Despite the recent heartbreaking 1-0 loss to Japan in the Women's Asian Cup final, Montemurro noted that even the most experienced players are motivated to join the squad for these friendlies.
Notable omissions include striker Mary Fowler, right-back Ellie Carpenter, and first-choice midfielder Katrina Gorry, who are among seven players from the Asian Cup squad resting for these matches. Kyra Cooney-Cross is unavailable due to personal reasons. Montemurro explained that Fowler and Carpenter were given rests due to their heavy minutes during the Asian Cup and subsequent commitments.
New Faces and Returning Players
Melbourne City midfielder Leticia McKenna has received her first senior call-up to the Matildas squad. Additionally, defender Jessika Nash and Central Coast Mariners midfielder Isabel Gomez return to the national setup after being left out for the Asian Cup. These selections highlight Montemurro's focus on blending experience with emerging talent as the team looks toward future challenges.
The Matildas will kick off their campaign against an emerging Malawi side in Nairobi on April 11 at 2pm local time (9pm AEST), with the second match scheduled for April 15. These friendlies provide an opportunity for the team to gain international experience and build cohesion, even as Montemurro pushes for more competitive fixtures against higher-ranked nations in the future.
